Method

The JOMIZOO Feeding Scale

Every food on this site gets one of four ratings for each species. The scale is deliberately simple, so an owner can decide in seconds, and deliberately cautious, because small bodies have small margins.

  1. Yes

    Yes — safe in normal portions

    Safe as a regular part of the diet in sensible portions.

  2. Small amounts

    Yes, in small amounts

    Safe only as an occasional treat or in small amounts.

  3. Better not

    Better not

    Not acutely toxic, but unsuitable. Don’t offer it on purpose; a tiny accidental bite is not an emergency.

  4. Never

    No — never feed

    Toxic or dangerous. Never feed it, and call a vet if your pet has eaten some.

How a verdict is made

  1. Sources first. We look for guidance from veterinary sources (for example VCA Animal Hospitals, the Merck Veterinary Manual and avian-vet publications), then from animal-welfare charities such as the RSPCA, PDSA and Blue Cross, then peer-reviewed research. We don’t use content farms, forums or shop blogs.
  2. The cautious rule. When reputable sources disagree, we use the more cautious level and say so in the risks.
  3. Evidence labels. Each verdict is marked as either direct (a source discusses this food for this species or group) or inferred (reasoned from general feeding guidance and nutrient data). Each also carries a confidence level.
  4. Portions for small bodies. Portions are written for the smaller end of each species. For hamsters, we add a stricter note for dwarf species (Campbell’s, Winter White and their hybrids), which are prone to diabetes.
  5. Numbers you can check. Nutrient values come from USDA FoodData Central and are shown per 100 g on every food page.

What this site is not

It is not veterinary advice and it cannot diagnose anything. Individual animals, especially older pets or those with diabetes, kidney disease or obesity, may need a different diet. If your pet is unwell, or has eaten something rated Never, call an exotic-animal vet. See what to do in an emergency.

Review status and corrections

Pages are written by the JOMIZOO team from the listed sources. They have not yet been reviewed by a veterinarian. If you are a vet or researcher and disagree with a rating, please open an issue on GitHub with your source. Every change is public in the repository history.

All sources used (74)

  1. What to feed hamsters — RSPCA
  2. Hamsters as pets — PDSA
  3. Hamster care — Blue Cross
  4. What to feed your hamster - safe foods, fruit, veg and a complete feeding guide — Woodgreen Pets Charity
  5. Owning a Pet Hamster — VCA Animal Hospitals (Gregory Rich, DVM; Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM)
  6. Rodents: Feeding — VCA Animal Hospitals (Gregory Rich, DVM; Laurie Hess, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM)
  7. Providing a Home for a Hamster — Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version)
  8. Hamster Care Sheet — UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Companion Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery Service (PDF hosted by Wise Owl Animal Hospital)
  9. Dwarf Hamster Care Sheet — PetMD (written by Maria Zayas, DVM; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
  10. Syrian Hamster Care Sheet — PetMD (written by Maria Zayas, DVM)
  11. What Can Hamsters Eat? — PetMD (written by Angelina Childree, LVT; reviewed by Melissa Witherell, DVM)
  12. Can Hamsters Eat Broccoli & What to Feed Your Hamster — Northgate Veterinary Clinic, Seattle
  13. Hamster Nutrition — Dogwood Animal Hospital, Lawrenceville, Georgia
  14. Are Dwarf Hamsters Prone to Diabetes? Rodent Health Facts — ExoCare Veterinary Medical Centre (medically reviewed by Dr Asma Fariha)
  15. Garlic and Onion (Allium spp) Toxicosis in Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual (Cristine Hayes, DVM, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center)
  16. Avocado (Persea spp) Toxicosis in Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual
  17. Grape, Raisin, and Tamarind (Vitis spp, Tamarindus spp) Toxicosis in Dogs — Merck Veterinary Manual
  18. Apple (toxic and non-toxic plants list) — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  19. Cherry (toxic and non-toxic plants list) — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  20. Peach (toxic and non-toxic plants list) — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  21. Rhubarb (toxic and non-toxic plants list) — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  22. Tomato Plant (toxic and non-toxic plants list) — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  23. The Chinese hamster as a model for the study of diabetes mellitus (Gerritsen GC, Diabetes 1982;31 Suppl 1:14-23) — Diabetes (American Diabetes Association) - PubMed record
  24. Fine structural studies of the islets of Langerhans in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) (Voss KM, Herberg L, Kern HF, Cell Tissue Res 1978) — Cell and Tissue Research (Springer)
  25. Warning on False or True Morels and Button Mushrooms with Potential Toxicity Linked to Hydrazinic Toxins: An Update (Lagrange E, Vernoux JP, Toxins 2020;12(8):482) — Toxins (MDPI) - PubMed record
  26. Husbandry and Medical Care of Hamsters — Veterinary Partner (VIN)
  27. Hamster Care — UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
  28. Hamster Information and Care Recommendations — MedVet
  29. Feeding your hamster — PDSA
  30. Hamster Care — San Diego Humane Society
  31. Tofu cookie treat (recipe) — Hamster Society (Singapore)
  32. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets — ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
  33. Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual
  34. Food Hazards — Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version)
  35. Salt Toxicosis in Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual
  36. Aflatoxicosis in Animals — Merck Veterinary Manual
  37. Tremorgenic Neuromycotoxicosis in Dogs — Merck Veterinary Manual
  38. Potential Toxic Levels of Cyanide in Almonds (Prunus amygdalus), Apricot Kernels (Prunus armeniaca), and Almond Syrup (Chaouali et al., ISRN Toxicology, 2013) — ISRN Toxicology (via Europe PMC)
  39. Abnormal Secretion of Insulin and Glucagon by the In Vitro Perfused Pancreas of the Genetically Diabetic Chinese Hamster (Frankel et al., 1974) — Journal of Clinical Investigation
  40. Why Can't Rodents Vomit? A Comparative Behavioral, Anatomical, and Physiological Study (Horn et al., 2013) — PLOS ONE
  41. Feeding Budgies — VCA Animal Hospitals
  42. Feeding Pet Cockatiels — VCA Animal Hospitals
  43. Fruits and Vegetables in Birds' Diets — VCA Animal Hospitals
  44. Obesity in Birds — VCA Animal Hospitals
  45. Basic Care for Companion Birds — Association of Avian Veterinarians
  46. Feeding Birds (client education handout) — Association of Avian Veterinarians
  47. Unsafe Foods for Birds — LafeberVet
  48. Client education: Toxic plants — LafeberVet
  49. Nutritional Diseases of Pet Birds — Merck Veterinary Manual
  50. Nutritional Disorders of Pet Birds (Bird Owners edition) — Merck Veterinary Manual
  51. Nutrition in Psittacines — Merck Veterinary Manual
  52. Rhubarb — Pet Poison Helpline
  53. What to Feed Your Pet Bird — RSPCA
  54. How to care for your pet bird — University of Florida Small Animal Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine
  55. Budgerigar Care — Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service
  56. Foods That Are Toxic to Birds (Lauren Jones, VMD) — PetMD
  57. Cockatiel Care Sheet (Maria Zayas, DVM) — PetMD
  58. Avian Goiter (Thyroid Hyperplasia or Dysplasia) — University of Florida IFAS Extension
  59. An outbreak of thyroid hyperplasia (goiter) with high mortality in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) — Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2015 (PubMed abstract, PMID 25428186)
  60. Hemoglobinuric nephrosis and hepatosplenic erythrophagocytosis in a dusky-headed conure (Aratinga weddelli) after ingestion of garlic (Allium sativum) — Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 2004
  61. Molecular basis for species-specific sensitivity to 'hot' chili peppers — Cell, 2002 (record at Scholars@Duke)
  62. Tumors in Birds: Lipomas — VCA Animal Hospitals (Gregory Rich, DVM; Rick Axelson, DVM)
  63. Management of Pet Birds (professional version) — Merck Veterinary Manual (Sharman M. Hoppes, DVM, DABVP Avian)
  64. Foods Toxic to Pet Birds — Lafeber Company (Christal Pollock, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian, with Laura Doering)
  65. Feeding Your Pet Bird a Healthy Diet (client education handout) — LafeberVet (Christal Pollock, DVM, DABVP Avian Practice)
  66. Calcium in the Avian Patient — LafeberVet (Christal Pollock, DVM, DABVP Avian Practice)
  67. Fresh Foraging Ideas To Try — Lafeber Company (Stephanie Lamb, DVM, DABVP Avian Practice)
  68. Where Avian Nutrition and Health Intersect (Diet-related Disease in Pet Birds) — University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine (Judilee C. Marrow, DVM, DACZM)
  69. 10 Everyday Items That Are Toxic to Birds — Veterinary Center for Birds and Exotics (avian and exotic practice of Laurie Hess, DVM, DABVP Avian; practice blog, no individual byline)
  70. Parsley-induced photosensitivity in ostriches and ducks (Perelman B, Kuttin ES. Avian Pathol. 1988;17(1):183-192) — Avian Pathology (PubMed record)
  71. Death by chocolate: a fatal problem for an inquisitive wild parrot (Gartrell BD, Reid C. N Z Vet J. 2007;55(3):149-151) — New Zealand Veterinary Journal (PubMed record)
  72. Acute, fatal, presumptive xylitol toxicosis in Cape sugarbirds (Promerops cafer) (Gardner BR, Mitchell EP. J Avian Med Surg. 2017;31(4):356-358) — Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery (PubMed record)
  73. Toxicity of sodium chloride to house sparrows (Passer domesticus) (Bollinger TK, Mineau P, Wickstrom ML. J Wildl Dis. 2005;41(2):363-370) — Journal of Wildlife Diseases (PubMed record)
  74. Complete nutrient content of four species of commercially available feeder insects fed enhanced diets during growth (Finke MD. Zoo Biol. 2015;34(6):554-564) — Zoo Biology (PubMed record)